FAA eyeing purchase of Dallas building for consolidated ATC facility

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The Federal Aviation Administration is considering purchasing a large commercial office building in Dallas, Texas that could eventually serve as the site of a consolidated air traffic control facility, people familiar with the matter told The Air Current. 

The FAA last year was given $1.9 billion by Congress to close at least three ATC facilities responsible for controlling aircraft in cruise flight (known as “enroute” facilities) and construct one consolidated campus that would allow controllers to guide the same traffic from a single location. That money came as part of the broader $12.5 billion “down payment” for ATC modernization and was specifically earmarked to “construct a new” facility, according to the budget bill which set aside the funds.

The Dallas building, the familiar people said, could be retrofitted to eventually become a “supercenter” of ATC activity — something the agency expects will save money and streamline its operations. The familiar people cautioned that no decision has been made and the purchase might not occur. The FAA is also looking at placing the facility in other cities, including Houston, some of the people cautioned.

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